ICC World Cup 2019: Team India's strongest playing XI for the tournament

The World Cup is just over three months away and the build-up is already in full flow. As the 12th edition of the mega event approaches, the focus has surely shifted to white-ball cricket in most parts of the world. Teams are busy getting their squads ready, trying to test a few players here and there, and thereby figure out their best possible combination for the 50-overs competition. India have enjoyed an excellent run in the lead-up to the tournament. They have won 12 out of their last 13 bilateral ODI series. Since January 2016, they have the second-best win-loss ratio (2.526). In fact, the ‘Men in Blue’ have lost just 10 ODIs since the conclusion of the Champions Trophy in 2017. Hence, they are going to enter the World Cup as favourites alongside hosts England. Thus, with just a few months to go for the World Cup, here’s a look at the strongest playing XI for the Virat Kohli-led side. Here is India’s strongest playing XI for the 2019 World Cup: Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images) Ever since Rohit Sharma started opening the batting, he has become a consistent performer for the ‘Men in Blue’ at the top of the order. His numbers have just gotten better and better. In fact, since the start of 2016, he has scored in excess of 3,000 ODI runs at an average of 66.14 which includes 16 tons. The Indian limited-overs vice-captain has been one of the reasons for India’s success over the last few years. Rohit has become one of the best opening batsmen in white-ball cricket in the world at the moment. Once he gets a start he tries to make it count and he has the excellent ability to score daddy hundreds as well. Hence, Rohit is going to be one of the key players for India at the World Cup. Shikhar Dhawan Shikhar Dhawan. (Photo Source: Twitter) Shikhar Dhawan will accompany Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. The Delhi left-hander has also been in excellent touch and has formed a lethal opening pair with Rohit Sharma. Alongside Rohit and Virat Kohli, Dhawan is the only other Indian batsman who has been consistent and is a part of what looks like a formidable top three. Also, the left-handed opener has a knack of producing impact knocks in the big games, especially in ICC tournaments. He has an excellent record in multi-nation tournaments. Hence, alongside Rohit Sharma, the very experienced Dhawan forms a potent opening pair. Virat Kohli (captain) Virat Kohli. (Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images) The Indian skipper has simply redefined the art of batting in white-ball cricket over the last few years. He has churned out hundreds for fun and has been the best batsman in ODI cricket for a while now. Since January 2016, Kohli has amassed 3702 runs at a stunning average of 88.14. Kohli’s consistency has been remarkable and he is the backbone of this Indian batting line-up. Series after series, he has walked out and churned out runs consistently. He has led the team really well and India have lost just one bilateral ODI series under Kohli’s captaincy. Hence, Kohli at No. 3 is a force and completes a formidable top three. Ambati Rayudu Ambati Rayudu. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images) No. 4 is one spot which has been under the scanner in this Indian One Day setup. As many as 11 players have got a chance at No. 4 but none of them could really cement their place. However, in the last six months or so, Ambati Rayudu has put his hand up and has been good in that slot. Ever since he made a comeback in the ODI side in September 2018, Rayudu has done well. He’s scored 606 runs at an average of over 50. He has shown he can adapt to different situations. He can come in and continue the momentum created by the top order or can put his head down and help the team rebuild just like he did in the fifth ODI in New Zealand. Moreover, the Hyderabad batsman plays spin well and has the ability to rotate the strike in the middle overs. MS Dhoni (wicket-keeper) MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The evergreen Jharkhand-born MS Dhoni will be playing his fourth and most probably his final World Cup. The former Indian skipper has been under the pump in recent times for his poor form and his inability to get going. However, he silenced his critics with a Man of the Series performance in Australia. He scored three consecutive fifties and took India home in a couple of tense run-chases. Also, the 37-year-old is still the best wicket-keeper in the country. Moreover, he has been brilliant behind the stumps and there are very few chances that go down when Dhoni dons the gloves. Despite not being in the best of forms, he has the backing of the captain and the coach. Kedar Jadhav Kedar Jadhav. (Photo Source: Twitter) Kedar Jadhav is a utility cricketer and is very underrated. He can come in and play a quick cameo, helping the team finish with a flourish and can also chip in with a few useful overs. In fact, he is India’s sixth bowler and Kohli has often turned to Jadhav to break a partnership and stem the run flow. Jadhav’s ability to score some quick runs at the death and the knack of picking up important wickets might work in his favour as India don’t have any other specialist batsman who bowls. Vijay Shankar might be another option for the ‘Men in Blue’ but Jadhav provides the unorthodox option and he could well be a key part of the XI. Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya. (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images) Hardik Pandya, the Baroda cricketer, has become India’s premier all-rounder over the last few years. The 25-year-old is India’s fifth bowler and will most likely be used as the third seamer. He is slated to bat at No. 7 but he could well be used as a floater in the batting line-up depending on the match situation. The Baroda all-rounder has the ability to come in and straightaway tonk the bowlers around. With the ball, he can generate some decent speeds and keep things quiet. In fact, he possesses a bowling strike-rate of 43 in ODI cricket and has also taken 44 wickets. Pandya has made a successful comeback from a back injury and also some off-field issues that involved his comments in the Koffee With Karan show. He looked in good form in New Zealand and will be one of the X-factors in this side. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images) Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been India’s premier white-ball bowler over the last couple of years. He has formed a potent new-ball pair with Jasprit Bumrah and the duo have consistently delivered for the ‘Men in Blue’. The Meerut-born speedster is one of the best exponents of the swinging ball but he has become a reliable death bowler as well in the last few years. The talented pacer has some excellent variations and has mastered the art of using them wisely. The new ball hardly moves these days in limited-overs cricket and Kumar has adapted really well. He has added an extra yard of pace as well over the last couple of years. Hence, he will most likely start as India’s first-choice pacer. Kuldeep Yadav Kuldeep Yadav. (Photo Source: Twitter) Kuldeep Yadav has been a revelation for Virat Kohli and his men. The chinaman has been India’s lead spinner in white-ball cricket alongside Yuzvendra Chahal. In 39 ODIs, he has picked up 77 wickets at an average of 20.64, a strike-rate of 25.9 and an economy of 4.77. Teams have had quite a few problems facing the chinaman and despite playing a decent number of games, not a lot of batsmen have figured out a way to tackle the guile and trajectory of Kuldeep Yadav. Hence, there is no doubt that Kuldeep is going to be one of India’s potent weapons in the World Cup. Yuzvendra Chahal Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images) Yuzvendra Chahal has formed a formidable wrist-spin duo with Kuldeep Yadav. The two have been one of the biggest reasons for India’s success in white-ball cricket over the last couple of years. They’ve constantly picked up wickets in middle overs and put the brakes on the scoring. Chahal has picked up 71 wickets in 40 games in his ODI career so far. The leg-spinner has bowled in the powerplay as well at times and has done well. He has also proved his mettle in the latter half of the innings and has come out on top on numerous occasions. Hence, this wrist-spin duo is one of India’s biggest strength going into the World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah of India. (Photo Source: Twitter) Jasprit Bumrah is one of the most improved Indian cricketers in the last couple of years. He has evolved really well and has become India’s leading fast bowler across all formats. Since 2016, no other Indian bowler has taken as many wickets as Bumrah in ODI cricket. The Gujarat pacer has taken 78 wickets in 44 games at an average of 21.01 and an economy of 4.44. Bumrah has the ability to bowl at any stage of the innings. He can be effective at the top with the new ball and can come in the middle to break a partnership. However, his strength is his death bowling and he is one of the best death bowlers going around in the world at the moment. Hence, he completes what looks like a solid bowling attack. Get the latest Cricket News and updates, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.

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ICC World Cup 2019: Team India's strongest playing XI for the tournament

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